The hearing followed public anger after a murder suspect was released on $50,000 bail.
KENT, WA — A King County Superior Court judge said she has received death threats over courtroom decisions while weighing bail for a Renton murder suspect accused of fatally stabbing a 65-year-old handyman.
The remarks by Judge Johanna Bender came during an Oct. 3 bail hearing for K’Shawn Konscience Jimerson, who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Michael Dean Gray. Prosecutors sought $2 million bail after Jimerson had been released on $50,000 bail set at an earlier first appearance.
Jimerson was accused in the Sept. 27 stabbing at a home on Northeast 18th Street in Renton, where Gray had been doing handyman work. Police said Jimerson called 911 after the stabbing and reported that he had stabbed someone. Officers arrived to find Gray badly wounded and Jimerson at the scene. Investigators said a large kitchen knife was recovered. Jimerson later claimed self-defense, but police and prosecutors said video, witness accounts and the location of Gray’s wounds raised serious questions about that claim. Gray died at the scene despite aid from first responders.
The bail dispute began at Jimerson’s first court appearance, when King County District Court Judge Michele Gehlsen found probable cause and set bail at $50,000. Prosecutors had requested $2 million. Jimerson posted bail and was released, drawing criticism from Renton police leaders and people who knew Gray. Renton Police Chief Jon Schuldt said the community deserved protection from a suspect accused of violent acts. Prosecutors then filed a motion to raise the bail, citing additional information they said was not included in the first hearing materials.
At the Oct. 3 hearing, Bender asked whether anyone wanted to speak before she ruled. Jimerson’s mother asked the court to block news media from showing her son’s face, saying she feared people might try to hurt him before trial. Bender said she understood the fear. “This hearing is not about me, but I will share with you that I often get death threats based on the decisions that I made,” Bender said in court. She said threats against a judge’s life were frightening and disruptive, while telling the family she understood they were facing a crisis.
Bender allowed media coverage of Jimerson’s face, noting that surveillance video had already aired publicly. She raised bail to $500,000 instead of the $2 million requested by prosecutors. The judge also ordered Jimerson back into custody and added electronic home detention as a condition if he were able to post the higher bail. The order moved the case back into jail custody while the murder charge continued through King County Superior Court.
Prosecutors said the added evidence included Ring camera footage that showed Jimerson striking Gray from behind with a wooden stick before both men went into the apartment. Court records said Gray was stabbed within seconds after entering the unit. Investigators also said Jimerson did not appear to have injuries that matched a self-defense claim. The case remained focused on what happened in the moments before the stabbing, including what started the confrontation and whether Gray posed any threat. Those questions had not been fully resolved at the bail stage.
Neighbors described a sudden police response on the Renton street after the stabbing. One neighbor said she saw police cars, fire trucks and ambulances arrive, then learned someone had died. Another neighbor said the violence was hard to understand because Gray had been at the property for maintenance work. Gray was described by people who knew him as a military veteran and a helpful neighbor. His death quickly became part of a wider public debate in King County over bail in violent-crime cases.
Bender’s comments also drew attention because she had faced criticism in other bail decisions. Earlier in 2024, she lowered bail for a man accused of being an accomplice in a double murder. In another case, she set bail for a man accused of shooting a grandmother at a Covington ATM. Families of victims in those cases criticized the amounts as too low. Bender said in court that judges must apply the law, and she urged news media to cover courtroom events fairly and avoid stirring public calls for revenge.
Jimerson was charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement. His arraignment was scheduled for Oct. 16 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The raised bail kept him in custody unless he could meet the $500,000 amount and comply with court-ordered conditions.
Author note: Last updated May 18, 2026.